What Happens to a Dream Deferred?

Does it dry up, like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore - and then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat
Or crust and sugar over - like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags, like a heavy load.


Or does it explode?




- A Dream Deferred, by Langston Hughes

At Last, At Last!

This past December, I finally accomplished something I've been wanting to do for ages: I made my first stop motion film!  I made it using cut paper, and I put it together using Dragon.  Unfortunately, I had a few problems with the program, and since I was pushing myself inexorably to meet my New Year's Eve deadline, I lost some of the original beginning animation, and wasn't able to attach the audio track!  Since the reason I wanted it done for New Year's was so I could show it off to family at our traditional gathering (we have a sleep-over, eat tons of mushroom bread, and watch The Princess Bride on New Year's Day), I ended up simply playing the audio on iTunes while the video played on QuickTime.

Now, at last, four months later, I took the time to look up how I could possibly add audio after the fact.  Naturally, the answer turned out to be simple.  I just had to upgrade my QuickTime player, and voila, problem solved.  Ah, well.  We live and learn.

At any rate, here's the video.  Be warned: it is a first attempt, and far from perfect.  Also, it contains a lot of references to family in-jokes and stories.  Don't worry, though.  The frames per second count is a little too quick, so you probably won't have time to be confused. : )

Edit: I should have mentioned this already, but the idea for this video was inspired by the marvelous video "Boom De Ya Da - Walt Disney World 2009" by BanksLeeProductions.

Trying to Inspire

myself to get back to (art)work, I lined up some of my recent, and ancient, creations on my desk.

Artwork above;

Kitteh below.

A very good sort of day.